Mountain Homecoming Read Online Free

Mama probably needed her help.
    She dashed into the house and hurried into the kitchen. Mouthwatering smells drifted from the iron cook stove in the corner. Spring greens from the mountainsides simmered in a pot on the back burner, and sliced ham ready to be placed in the frying pan lay on a plate on the table. But it was the sweet odor coming from the oven that tickled her nose. She couldn’t resist a peek and opened the oven door to catch a glimpse of the apple pie bubbling on the rack.
    Closing the door, she turned and glanced around. Where was everybody? “Hello? Anybody home?”
    â€œOut here, darlin’.”
    The familiar voice came from the yard, and she peered out the back door. Granny Lawson, her Bible in her lap and her cane resting against her chair, sat under the big oak tree behind the house. Rani stood still a moment and studied the woman she’d known all her life.
    Granny, as everyone called her, had dedicated her life years ago to serving the people she loved as a midwife. There was hardly a person Rani’s age or younger in the Cove who hadn’t been delivered by the legendary granny woman. Although not related by blood to her family, Granny had been a second mother to both her parents, and she was the only grandmother Rani had ever known.
    Rani’s gaze drifted to Granny’s hands. Healing hands, they’d always been called. Now they were gnarled with arthritis. Rani ran down the back porch steps and plopped down on the ground next to Granny.
    â€œSupper smells good. Who picked the greens?”
    Granny closed her Bible and smiled. “Your pa picked ’em this mornin’. Your ma was just ’bout to put ’em on to cook when she remembered she wanted to go check on Lizzie Morton and her new young ’un. I told her to go on. I’d take care of supper. Your pa drove her over there in the buggy, so they ought to be a-gittin’ back soon.”
    â€œGood. I can hardly wait to have a piece of that pie you made. But I wish I’d been here to help you. I know how painful it is for you to use your fingers.”
    Granny frowned and shook her head. “No, child. I made out just fine. You needed to be over to Josie’s a-tellin’ her goodbye.” Granny tilted her head to one side. “How’s my girl a-doin’? I know she hates to leave her folks.”
    Rani sighed. “She does, but she’s being brave.” Her voice broke, and she laid her cheek against Granny’s leg. She placed her fingers on the Bible in Granny’s lap and caressed the leather cover of the book Granny had read to her all her life. The tears she’d tried to hold in since leaving Josie’s ran down her face. “Oh Granny. What am I going to do? All my friends are leaving the Cove. I’ll be so lonely.”
    Granny stroked Rani’s head. “No you won’t. You gonna have your folks and me, and you got a lot of friends at church.”
    Rani raised up and stared at Granny. “I know that, but sometimes I feel so…so empty inside. Like something’s missing from my life. What’s the matter with me?”
    â€œThere ain’t nothin’ wrong with you. You’ve just grown into a woman with feelin’s you don’t understand, but you’ll figure ’em out. You’re ’bout the smartest girl I ever seen.” She leaned closer. “Maybe even smarter than your ma, and that’s sayin’ a mouthful.”
    Rani shook her head. “You’re wrong. Mama knew from the time she was a little girl she wanted to deliver babies and take care of sick folks. I’ll never be able to do anything that comes up to her.” Her lips trembled, and she paused before continuing. “And I’ll never be able to make up for what I’ve taken from her.”
    â€œOh, child.” Deep wrinkles furrowed across Granny’s face. She reached out and caressed Rani’s cheek. “You